Rule 14. Head-on situation

(a) When two power-driven vessels are meeting on reciprocal or nearly reciprocal courses so as to involve risk of collision each shall alter her course to starboard so that each shall pass on the port side of the other.

(b) Such a situation shall be deemed to exist when a vessel sees the other ahead or nearly ahead and by night she could see the masthead lights of the other in a line or nearly in a line and/or both sidelights and by day she observes the corresponding aspect of the other vessel.

(c) When a vessel is in any doubt as to whether such a situation exists she shall assume that it does exist and act accordingly.

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Two power-driven vessels (A and B) are meeting on reciprocal or nearly reciprocal courses so as to involve risk of collision. What action should each vessel take in accordance with COLREGs?

Actions in a head-on situation are established by Rule 14: (a) When two power-driven vessels are meeting on reciprocal or nearly reciprocal courses so as to involve risk of collision, each shall alter its course to the right so that each shall pass on the port side of the other. (b) Such a situation shall be deemed to exist when a vessel sees the other ahead or nearly ahead and by night it can see the masthead lights in line or nearly in line and/or both sidelights of the other vessel, and by day it observes the corresponding aspect of the other vessel. (c) If there is any doubt as to whether such a situation exists, it shall be deemed to exist and action shall be taken accordingly. Actions of the give-way vessel are established by Rule 16: Every vessel which is required to give way to another vessel shall, so far as possible, take early and substantial action to keep well clear.

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